How much does a political scientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $68.31 an hour or $11,840 a month.
- Hourly
- $68.31
- Average (mean)
- $142,500
- Jobs
- 5,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,350 | $40.07 | |
| 25th | $114,000 | $54.82 | |
| Median | $142,100 | $68.31 | |
| 75th | $174,200 | $83.74 | |
| 90th | $195,200 | $93.84 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $153,400 |
| District of Columbia | $152,500 |
| Washington | $147,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,000 |
| Massachusetts | $133,900 |
| Colorado | $127,300 |
| Oregon | $119,500 |
| Ohio | $119,400 |
| Texas | $114,100 |
| Arizona | $108,800 |
| Illinois | $103,800 |
| Michigan | $86,290 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Washington, DC | $156,700 |
| Seattle, WA | $154,000 |
| Boston, MA | $133,900 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $114,300 |
| Chicago, IL | $103,800 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $86,290 |
| Detroit, MI | $79,990 |
In other countries
Political Scientist belongs to the international group "Philosophers, historians and political scientists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Economist$124,700
- Survey Researcher$69,460
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$194,000
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$100,600
- School Psychologist$95,990
- Psychologist$110,800
- Sociologist$106,000
- Urban and Regional Planner$89,320
- Anthropologist and Archeologist$70,770
- Geographer$102,000
Frequently asked questions
How much does a political scientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $68.31 ($142,100 a year).
How much does a political scientist make a month?
About $11,840 a month before tax, based on a median of $142,100 a year.
How much does a political scientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $83,350 or less a year ($40.07 an hour); the top 10% make $195,200 or more.
Which state pays political scientists the most?
Maryland, with a median of $153,400 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($152,500) and Washington ($147,100).
Which city pays political scientists the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $156,700 a year.
How many political scientists are there in the United States?
About 5,540 people work as political scientists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.